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32 reviews for Alaskan Brewing Company
Review Highlights
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"The smoked porter should not be missed." In 8 reviews -
"I highly recommend the tour too." In 14 reviews -
"...had a nice collection of beer bottles on display from all..." In 4 reviews
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32 reviews in English
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Review from Martí W.
2/7/2012 1 photo
Oh Alaskan brew, how I love thee!
I have not yet had the pleasure of touring this brewery. (Although I imagine the sampling portion would be something like Heaven on Earth.) Despite this, and perhaps bordering on taboo in Yelpland, I feel a review of their product is this chick's must-do!
Anyone that has read my profile, and my reviews, has most likely noticed I mention Alaskan Amber Ale...a lot. To say I love this beer would obviously be a ginormous understatement.
It's ridic...
I have also tried Alaskan Summer Ale and Alaskan Winter Ale, which were both great too. But the Amber...mmm...that's my gig.
From the moment my plane lands in the Northwest, I absolutely cannot wait to grab a six-pack of the stuff, or grab a seat at one of the many local bars that offers this liquid gold on tap. I feel it's really at its best via draft, but splendid in the bottle as well.
At round two, the bartenders in Seattle almost always say, "Since you like Alaskan Amber, have you tried **enter Washington local beer name here**?"
It is as if the world has stopped as my mind urges me to say, "Did you SERIOUSLY just suggest ANOTHER BEER to me OTHER THAN ALASKAN?!? HAVE YOU LOST YOUR FRIGGIN' MIND?!?". Yet, I calmly, and respectfully, decline, ask for another of the same, then sit there sipping my beer happiness, still reeling at such a horrid suggestion. *sigh*
The rather unfortunate news about this fantastic beer...it is only offered for direct brewery distribution in the following states: Alaska (duh), Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
(However, on recent jaunts to Denver and Portland, I asked if they served it, and got the "WTF is THAT!?!" look one more than one inquiry. *wail*)
The GREAT news? There are several distributors that work with the brewery, and for the Nashville audience, at least one of them is licensed to ship to Tennessee. Woohoo! This list is available on their website (a rather nice website at that): http://www.alaskanbeer...
In conclusion, it goes without saying that I would love to see this beer stocked and served east of the Mississippi.
See you in Juneau! -
Review from Caroline C.
Cincinnati, OH
1/18/2012
Free beer. Excuse me, I need to repeat that with more emphasis. FREE BEER!!!
I took the Alaskan Brewing Company shuttle (from the shop downtown to the brewery) for a small charge of just a few bucks (plus, don't forget to tip your driver) and then you're pretty much ready to drink.
Before the 'tour' starts you are given a small glass and a number of samples to enjoy at the bar and explore.
The 'tour' is really more of a lecture-style format in a panaromic-windowed room overlooking the brewery. I don't know who gives this lecture but he was fantastic. Super knowledgeable about not just beer and the brewery but Alaska and its geography, etc. So the tour isn't really a tour, but it's not a boring ol' lecture either. And you drink during the whole thing. And eat toasted barley and smell hops and stuff.
I'd also like to thank the bartender for introducing me to a new drink... The Black and Blacker (Smoked Porter paired with Stout, totally yummy). And there's plenty of merchandise and beer for purchase as well. -
Review from David G.
Knoxville, TN
4/20/2012
This is some good drink! They have a downtown shop and then the brewery, and they have a shuttle to go back and fourth in town. They have a tour and sampling tastes. The bar is cool and they really know how to make the brew!
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Review from Nancy F.
1/26/2012
We recently took a cruise and made it a point to go here on one of our excursions. Best idea! Coming from Denver, I was pleasantly surprised at how much this brewery resembled many in Colorado. It isn't huge and has the same great kind of people running it. Free samples and knowledgeable folks that were extremely friendly. I love their IPA. I love the label too. Highly recommend for anyone cruising Alaska! It is a real taste of Alaska.
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Review from Jesse F.
San Diego, CA
2/25/2011
In Juneau for a day and having previously traveled there I wanted to do something different and un-touristy. So I met up with an old friend/work colleague, who luckily for me he knew exactly how to get there, and in no time we began sampling 6oz sized free tasters. Mmmmm beer!!! We watched the short video about how the brewery started, as no formal tour was offered. The highlight of the video was how environmental conscious they are.
They had a nice collection of beer bottles on display from all over, even obscure ones from every state in the US. While tasting we perused the store packed full of goodies not to mention bomber size bottles of their 2008-2010 smoked porter and other choices. The server and cashier were both friendly and accommodating. My only gripe would be that I tasted the beers in the wrong order-- dark to light. All the beers I sampled were excellent and if I'm ever back in Juneau I would go again. Next time hopefully I won't spend so much money on the goodies and focus on grabbing some great beer to take home. -
Review from Ryan B.
Redmond, WA
2/10/2009
This place was on my list of Breweries I wanted to see some time in my life, but would probably never have the chance. But I lucked out, because this past year, my family forced me to go on a cruise to Alaska for a family reunion. For most that would be a dream come true, but I'm not a typical person, and cruises are not my ideal vacation. but I digress....
So said cruise offered an official trip to the brewery for $100. I was not going to pay that... So I wandered in to town, caught a city bus, and asked the locals where the hell I was going. I arrived there with little trouble and made my way inside after a short walk. The tasting room also doubles as their retail store, which seems to be what their focus is. I hung out and chatted with one of the brewers and one of the bartenders, and int he process they poured me a taster of every one of their beers (and didn't charge).
On top of the Alaskan Amber and Smoked Porter we get in Washington, they had several other beers that we don't get here. I've never been a big fan of the Amber, but the Smoked Porter is in my top 10 beers ever. Their other brews were very impressive, and I wished they'd send those down our way once in a while. I'd say it's on par with some of Seattle's better breweries, and that's quite a feat.
The one downside is that I really wish they had more of a pub type seating area in the tasting room. I realize they're trying to get tourists in to buy their retail stuff, and make way for the next group, but I really wanted to soak in the experience of seeing a brewery I might not ever see again (I'm quite a brewery enthusiast).
But all in all, I'm very glad I got to see this place. And get yourself some smoked porter if you've never had the pleasure :) -
Review from Janelle R.
Princeton, NJ
6/23/2007 4 photos
My visit to the Alaskan Brewing Company was definitely one of the highlights of my trip. I think a visit to any brewery is fun, but this visit was especially well planned as it was our final destination on bike tour through the City of Juneau and the Tongass National Forest during a typical Alaskan summer (all-day) downpour. I was soaked with rain and mud and tired of pedalling, so like I said - this was a great time to sample some beers. We walked in as a group of maybe 10-15 people and stood in front of the bar area while this nice man "kept 'em coming." We were entitled to one sample of each brew per person, but he could tell we were thirsty and allowed us a few extras.
The Alaskan Brewing Company brews 8 different types of beer: Amber, Pale Ale, IPA, ESB, Summer Ale, Winter Ale, Stout, and the Smoked Porter . We were able to sample them all with the exception of the Winter Ale. While most were enjoyable, the Pale Ale and the Stout were my two personal favorites. The Smoked Porter is really popular, but more for marinating and BBQ-ing than drinking. A short tour was also available, which I missed due to my thirst quenching efforts. Nice gift shop too - I bought a t-shirt. If you're in Juneau, make it a point to stop by. -
Review from Martha L.
Prineville, OR
10/19/2011
The Smoked Porter is amazing, the IPA is nice and citrusy, i got the grapefruit flavors right up front on the first sip. Great job, Marcy and Geoff Larson!
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Review from Nick Y.
Kailua, HI
12/1/2008
The tour is limited (an orated history in a single room with a view of the plant), but the tasting is not. I was amazed that the pours were so heavy and seemingly unlimited. We walked in and had three or four samples before any mention of the tour; were told to "top 'er off" for the tour; and then had two of each after the tour.
Yep, I left Alaskan Brewing Company with some souvenirs and a buzz, feeling pret-ty darn good about the World. -
Review from Wendy B.
One of our cruise ship stops was in Juneau. Since we have family up in Juneau, this was on their list of places to drop by. Didn't need a tour guide, and definitely would not pay for one to go here. That said, it was a fun place, even though I personally am not a beer drinker. Mr. B, however took advantage of the free tastings.
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Review from Angela B.
7/13/2010 1 photo
If you're only in Juneau for a few hours, I'd make ABC a priority stop. The brewery is quaint & cozy, especially if you happen to be there in the middle of a downpour like we were. You can get 6 reasonably sized tastes for free, & also get a mini-tour & history lesson on the brewery while you drink (though that really amounts to the one room with big glass windows so that you can see the equipment). The man who was doing the tours & tastings while we were there was Tony, who was an absolute riot. I think he's leaving, but if he's still there, you're sure to hear all about his 21 years working for ABC.
There are bottles of most things they make for sale (including a few we hadn't seen before in SF - the Baltic Porter & barleywine were especially fabulous!) if you want to take a few bottles home, plus a ton of other ABC schwag if you feel so inclined. Speaking of bottles, don't forget to check out the ridiculous collection of beer bottles & cans from all over the world encircling the entire ceiling. One of my favorite stops! -
Review from Matt F.
6/28/2008
We stopped here after a cab ride from a cruise ship and were not disappointed. We get the IPA at my grocery store in Oakland, but the six beers we tasted showed a great range of styles brewed well. This place will undoubtedly change if it gets more popular, but, as others have said, they will keep on pouring those little glasses of beer until you say "when!".
The only thing I'd add about the beer itself is that it tasted fresh and delicious. Beer has a shelf life and any beer that winds up on my supermarket shelf has been in the bottle a month or more. Here the beer was very crisp, even delicate. If you like beer and are in Juneau, definitely make a stop.
They sell six packs, twelve packs, and kegs and a wide variety of branded merchandise. We took some beer back to the boat. -
Review from Eileen E.
8/16/2009
Their beer is delicious!
During a stop in Juneau on my family cruise to Alaska, we took the public bus to the stop closest to the Alaskan Brewing Co. which was 2 blocks away.
It was a hot summer day so some free beer samples were very welcome. They were generous with their sample sizes and I got to taste 3 beers - their white, their amber, and their oatmeal stout. The amber ale was so good that my dad ordered it practically at every dinner from then on since many restaurants serve this native brew. The store is clean and modern and they sell lots of Alaskan Brewing Co. merchandise.
12 oz bottles are only $1.75! Such a steal! I bought some for souvenirs :) -
Review from Sterling L.
Atlanta, GA
6/11/2009
This is another stop for which it makes no sense paying an excursion fee. There's no entry fee.
Cheaper to take a taxi or bus, although there's so much to see in Juneau your best bet may be to rent a car, even if you are on a one day cruise stop. You may be able to take in Mendenhall, the Hatchery, and cap it off with this Brewery for some beers.
They served me 8 different beers in 4 ounce tasting glasses, and it was completely free. I liked the Alaskan Amber the best. If you are a real beer fan they have a top rated dark, but I found it way too heavy. -
Review from Bernadette H.
San Francisco, CA
8/8/2008
We made a stop here after an amazing bike ride surrounded by some of the most amazing scenery alaska has to offer. Sorry - getting off topic. this is about the beer. The skinny on why this palce is so great:
- The tasting portions were plentiful
- they had all sorts of beers to taste
- very visually pleasing beer labels
- informative beer education session (with intermissions for refills on beer of course) -
Review from Candace S.
Alexandria, VA
11/20/2009 4 photos
My husband and I cruised to Alaska along with his brother and wife so we took an excursion together of bike riding around Mendenhall Glacier and then stopping at the Alaska Brewing Company.
This was my first brewery tour so I found is really interesting to see how the whole process worked and to see things in action while sampling their different beers on tap. My husband's sister-in-law LOVED the jalapeno beer. I tried their raspberry beer and my husband pretty much tried everything they had.
They dont distribute to TX yet, but it sounds like they're slowly making their way East :o) -
Review from Manny T.
Garden City, NY
2/21/2009
Small, quiet; a great little brewery. They are super friendly there and are a quick cab ride from port if you stop in on a cruise.
We went in August of 2004, so things may have changed since, but I doubt it. The beer was spot-on, the Amber and the Summer are my faves. They had no problems filling my glass again and again, they even called my cab for me and then calculated how many beers I'd be able to drink until it got there.
No growlers available, but plenty of beer and cool swag for sale.
Alaskan Brewing Company gets my highest reccomendation.Listed in: Breweries and Brewpubs
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Review from Amy L.
South St Paul, MN
7/16/2010
It's too bad Alaskan Beer hasn't come to the mid west- YET...I can't wait till it does. Alaskan has the best beer around and I can't wait to go Juneau every summer to have some.
They opened up a great new store downtown with all the cool accessories..or you can visit the Brewing! -
Review from Brian F.
El Cajon, CA
5/4/2011
I would give these guys 6 stars if I could. I stopped by here on my honeymoon in Juneau almost 3 years ago and Marcie and her staff were amazing. I can't thank you guys enough for your hospitality, and beer :) I'm looking forward to another trip to Alaska asap to stop in to sample your latest creations.
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Review from Art S.
San Francisco, CA
7/12/2007
After taking a group mountain bike ride, Rosemarie and I ended up here for a tour and some beer tasting! WOW...we were pleasantly surprised. We weren't really familiar with Alaskan Brewing Company but are now and glad that we are. Tasted a number of beers here but the one that really stood out for me was the smoked porter, INCREDIBLE, totally kicked ass!! They only really ship to the western part of the US, so if you are interested go to Trader Joe's and pick some up. The smoked porter should not be missed...Cheers!!
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Review from Meredith K.
Philadelphia, PA
6/25/2009 1 photo
Oh, baby. When my dad told me we'd be making a stop here on our recent trip to Alaska, I was excited. I only had the chance to try their Alaskan Amber one time, since they don't distribute to the East, but one time was all it took to hook me.
We arrived via taxi a few minutes before it opened, and right at 11 a man resembling Warren Haynes let us in. To say that this brewery is unassuming in appearance would be the understatement of the year. It's located in a one-story, trailer-like building with only an awning bearing its name; if the cab driver hadn't known exactly where it was, we'd have been in trouble. (As it turned out, the driver was good friends with Tony, the Warren Haynes lookalike, who was in charge of the tours.)
Tony wasted no time in feeding us free beer. After tasting a few, we headed back to take the "tour", which was actually just one room with windows through which you could see the tanks. I was surprised by how few tanks there were (around seven or eight, if I remember correctly). Tony told us about the history of the brewery, taking several breaks along the way to fill up our glasses. The beer made Tony's already-amusing stories even more hilarious, and by the end of the "tour" I had tasted all of their beers (some twice) and had myself a nice little buzz (hey, it was 5 p.m. in some parts of the world).
Unfortunately, their Jalapeno Ale, which I was eager to try, ran out, but all of their other beers--Pale Ale, IPA, Oatmeal Stout, Smoked Porter, Amber, Summer, and White--were amazingly fresh and delicious. I don't even like summer or white beers, but I fell in love with theirs. It must be the water. They also offer most of their beers in 22-ounce bottles for insanely cheap prices. I took home a bottle of the IPA for $2.99, a price that's unheard of in Philly. Of course, I couldn't stop there... I also grabbed a sweatshirt, a T-shirt for Hunter, two tasting glasses, and two pint glasses before leaving. This place was a definite highlight in my Alaskan experience. The only complaint I can venture is that their beer is pretty inaccessible out here. Hopefully as the demand for their beer increases, they will start distributing more widely... but before they do that, I think they may need to move to a bigger facility!Listed in: Prost!, I Can See Russia From Here!
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Review from Albert H.
Scottsdale, AZ
1/20/2010
Simply outstanding beers from this place, and I can get nearly all of them here in Arizona. The Baltic Porter is just perfect for winter months, and I still have a few bottles of last year's barleywine aging well. IPA is a great beer for everyday, and their amber (altbier) is good with many food options. Winter seasonal is great and I know it shouldn't matter so much but they do a great job with the labels on nearly every beer.
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Review from Eliza M.
Chicago, IL
8/7/2008
I don't think beer gets better than this, and the tour and tasting are pretty fun. I left with a case of the Smoked Porter, which I wrapped up in socks, arranged in my backpack, and carried on my back through three airports (this was back in the days when that wasn't a problem to take liquids on planes) - and it was totally worth it. The Smoked Porter is definitely the most note-worthy, but all the beer here is great. If you're in Juneau, take the tour and do the tasting. If you're in Alaska, drink as much of this beer as you can. I don't know where the Alaska Brewing Company distributes or if it's easier to find it West of the Mississippi, but I strongly encourage any one who loves beer to try it if they ever see it... anywhere.
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Review from nita m.
6/28/2010
Yay! The brewery location isn't fantastic (in the middle of a warehouse area) & it's on the tiny side (how in the world do they manage to brew enough beer to ship all over?) & there is no food available, but it's still a cool place. I like that you don't have to go on the actual tour to do a free tasting (bonus!) of 6 beers. Tony, the guy behind the tasting counter who pours, is hilarious & though he doesn't drink anymore, he does an excellent job of picking beers for you & having a filled taster ready for you. The walls are lined with an impressive collection of beers from all over the world, so it's fun to wander around checking them all out. There's a small selection of merchandise & beer to buy for home.
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Review from George L.
Oakland, CA
8/6/2010
Alaskan Brewing Company is definately worth a stopover if you like beer. Tours available, souvenirs, free beer taste samples.
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Review from let's c.
San Francisco, CA
8/28/2010
Love it!!
What a great tasting room!!! The folks here are super nice and accommodating. They sell their beer from the tasting room and you know it can't get fresher than the flight samplers coming out of the kegs. Chat with brewers when they are on their break and see beer bottles from around the US and world. And for all you boat people, the bus goes there!!!
I hope the Extra Tuf IPA goes in bottles soon and down to Cali. It is a lot better than my fave there, Big Daddy by Speakeasy, which is seriously good. Just bought a double black IPA today from Breeze In and I am waiting to crack into it. -
Review from Raul P.
Claremont, CA
10/24/2007 1 photo
There are so many reasons to visit Alaska. This place is among one of the best reasons to go there. Stay as long as you like, drink a lot of beer and take the tour.
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Review from Shannon M.
Santa Rosa, CA
8/20/2009 1 photo
We made a very quick stop at the brewery to check it out and sample a (well needed) beer! It was quite crowded in there and would have liked to have more time at the bar for additional samples. Great stop while you are in Juneau and worth the ride over. All their merchandise was very reasonable- and the building- well it was typical Alaska style- plain and weather tolerant.
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Review from Cliff A.
Camas, WA
6/20/2010
We took the public bus and walked two blocks. Got to try 6 different kinds of beer. I'm not a beer snob, but enjoyed tasting some exotic beers that I wouldn't normally try. We stopped on the way back from the Glacier. Perfect ending for the day. I left a little tipsy. :-)
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Review from Tim O.
Beaverton, OR
11/13/2007
Alaskan Brewing Company was founded in 1986. I know that because I am smart like that, and because I took the tour...but mainly because it is printed on the front of my shirt that I bought from there. Anyways, attention beer lovers: You will love this little (but found all over the western states of the U.S.) brewery! I knew this because right when you walk in you see a little bar section with 8 of their beers on tap to taste. I was able to try each one and the a few extras for good measure. :) They have a number of pretty neat souvenirs to take home too. For those that like collectibles, people are also able to take one of the bottle labels from each of beers they craft. I am a particularly big fan of the Winter ale, Smoked Porter, and of course the classic amber ale. I highly recommend the tour too. You actually don't walk anywhere during the tour, but one of their knowledgeable staff will speak with you in a room decorated with all types of beer bottles from every state. This can be a neat tour for those with limited mobility. We were given a neat history lesson of the brewery and a step by step breakdown of how they brew their beer. Especially amazing was the break in the middle of the "tour" for refills of our favorite brew. This is is a place right up next to the picturesque mountains that I wont forget! Go visit....NOW!
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Review from Loree C.
Long Beach, CA
8/14/2009
What can we say, FREE BEER TASTING to ANYONE who walks in, who would turn that down! The tour leaves something to be desired but there is a lot of stuff to buy and beers to try! The ones who pour are very nice and beer educated! You can try anything they have on tap and try it again, and again, and again!!!! Definitely on the list of to-do when we return up to Alaska!
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Review from Jaimie K.
Portland, OR
10/26/2009
Great people, friendly service, delicious beer! What more could you want? Free samples and fun merchandise so you can shop while you drink :) Also - Informative tour presentations about the company and product... If you're around at shift change you can talk with some of the brewers as well! Fun lace all around!! If you're in Southeast, you should make it a point to stop by!
